Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-26
Treasure in the Sea.
WRECKED TREASURE SHIPS SEARCHED For
IN DELAWARE BAY.

If tradition be true there are countless
millions in gold doubloons, ''pieces of eight,
and ingots hidden beneath the waters that
lave Cape May, and concealed in the shattered
hulks of vessels wrecked in years long gone
The bottom of Delaware Bay in the vicinity
Of Lewes and Cape May, is reputed to be
almost covered with these treasure ships A
company has just been forme d in Philadelphia
for the purpose of finding this sunken gold.
Among its projectors are men well known in
financial and social circles, including the
Pancoasts, Halls, and Biddles.
The company has capital stock of $780,
000 and has already begun operations by
searching for the wreck of La belgrade, a
Spanish brig, which, after being captured
with So 900 900 in gold on board, was snnk
off Lewes during squall in 1914. The
privateer which captured her also sunk. The
Philadelphia capitalists claim that they have
memoranda made at the time by an old Del
awarean, which show the exact location of
the wrecks. They feel confident of success,
and expect soon to be IN possession of the
treasures.
Another party of Philadelphians are at
work along Seven mile Beach in an attempt
to recover the treasure of the ship Guatimo-
Yin. The Cult and Coast Wrecking Com
pauy, OF Somers' Point, found the wreck last
summer and began removing the sand from
about it bv a hydraulic process. Recently
the owners of Seven mile Beach ordered the
wrecking company to pursue its search no
further, and compelled it to cease operations
lust as they had succeeded in urcovering the
corner of an iron-b bound oaken box, such as
ships used to carry. Chagrined at this turn
Of affairs the company determined to block as
sihla rho of ut he r
treasure seekers by throwing RUBBISH into the
excavation, and the iron bound box will prob
ably never be recovered.
The original invoice, saved from the wreck
and showing the presence of gold in the lost
cargo, is still in the possession of a family
living in this county. The Guatimozin was
bound from China TO New York, and was
wrecked about the beginning of the present
century. She was reputed to have had on
board 500, 900 in coin.
There is known to be other treasure beneath
the waters in this vicinity. Manv years ago
Jean Baptste, a negro sailor, whose descen-
dents live at Cold Spring, was one of the
crew of ship bound out from New York.
There were many boxes of specie on board.
After getting well out TO sea the crew mutiDled,
compelling Baptiste to join them. The
captain and mate were killed and thrown
overheard. After placlnR tHe Rolu III tHe
long boat and yawl the sailors rowed toward
the shore. They endesvored to land on the
Cape May beach, but their boat was capsized
and much of the gold was lost. The mu
tineers saved their lives and the contents OF
the yawl, and, dividing this, they escaped with
what they could carry. Baptiste secured his
share and purchased land at Cold Spring,
where he lived at his ease for many years.
Whether or not the several treasure seek
ing companies will recover the lost wealth
is, of course, uncertain; but the majority OF
people hereabout are inclined to believe that
the capitalists concerned know what they are
about and will be rewarded by the recovery
of many thousands of dollars.